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Courthouse Square: The Design Process
 In
order to develop the best design possible, and to engage the
community in this great project, three interactive public
workshops were held. During these workshops, the design team
from Freedman, Tung & Bottomley and the public have worked
hard to come up with a beautiful and functional town square
for Redwood City. The design team has given the citizens of
Redwood City the benefit of their extensive public plaza expertise,
and the workshop participants have given the design team a
wealth of local knowledge.
| Meeting |
Date |
Location |
Time |
| Workshop #1 |
Thursday, September 25, 2003 |
Council Chambers |
7pm |
| Workshop #2 |
Thursday, December 11, 2003 |
Redwood Room |
7pm |
| Workshop #3 |
Thursday, March 4, 2004 |
Redwood Room |
7pm |
| Joint Study Session #1 |
Monday, May 3, 2004 |
Council Chambers |
7pm |
| Joint Study Session #2 |
Monday, July 12, 2004 |
Council Chambers |
7pm |
 At Workshop #1, FTB’s Michael Freedman gave an
excellent presentation on town squares around the world and
through history, and laid out the menu of options available
to Redwood City. The residents then discussed issues that
were important to them, and what they want the square to be
like.
At Workshop #2, FTB presented 4 beautiful design
alternatives that they felt would address the community’s
needs and desires. The designs were critiqued and discussed by the members
of the public. While all 4 designs had attractive features, none represented exactly what the community wanted.
At Workshop #3, 3 new design alternatives were presented. These new designs better reflected the needs and desires of the community. The public praised and critiqued the drawings. However, the workshop participants were evenly split on which design should move forward as the preferred alternative. No clear favorite had yet emerged.
Joint Study Session #1. To narrow down the choices, a joint study session of the City Council, Planning Commission, and Architectural Review Committee was convened on Monday, May 3, 2004 in the Council Chambers. The discussion was rigorous, but very productive. One of the three alternatives was eliminated, while the other two were to be refined and brought back for another joint study session on July 12, 2004.
Joint Study Session #2. At the second joint study session, FTB brought back modified versions of the two alternatives that weren't eli mated at the prior session. The two alternatives were both very much improved, but the second was clearly the favorite. It features two linear pavilions which match the historic courthouse architecturally, beautiful fountains, attractive dining areas, and a grand central plaza. The three groups unanimously preferred the second alternative and requested that it be retained as the community's preferred vision for the plaza. Click here to view renderings of the preferred design concept.
Once the concept development phase was completed, the design team began working on what is called "design development," where the details of the plaza are determined. Design development is also now complete and construction of the square is set to begin.
The new Courthouse Square and the restored 1910 Courthouse building are scheduled to be completed in late 2006.
See the renderings of the preferred design concept
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